The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has launched an investigation into the defacement of the official Senate of the Philippines website, saying initial findings show no indication that sensitive or confidential data was compromised.
The DICT said quick containment protocols were activated after the incident was reported early Thursday.
Through the National Computer Emergency Response Team, the agency immediately coordinated with the Senate’s Electronic Data Processing–Management Information System Service (EDP-MIS) to help contain the breach and restore the integrity of the website.
As a precaution, the Senate website was placed under temporary maintenance while security validation and restoration work were being carried out.
The DICT said the incident appeared to be limited to the defacement of the website’s public-facing pages.
“There is, at this time, no indication that sensitive or confidential data was compromised. The DICT emphasizes, however, that a thorough technical investigation is ongoing, and findings will be validated before any conclusions are drawn,” the agency said.
The department is working with the Senate, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, and law enforcement agencies to conduct forensic analysis, determine the root cause of the incident, and identify those behind the attack.
The DICT said appropriate legal action would be pursued against the perpetrators under Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“The DICT assures the public that supporting the restoration of affected services and safeguarding government digital infrastructure remain our highest priorities. We continue to provide technical assistance to the Senate and are closely monitoring the situation for any related malicious activity,” it said.
The agency also advised the public to rely only on official announcements from the Senate and the DICT for verified information.
Further updates are expected once validated findings become available.